Urinalysis is one of the most useful indicators of health and disease, and is especially helpful in the detection of renal or metabolic disorders. It aids in diagnosing and following the course of treatment in diseases of the kidney and urinary system and in detecting disorders in other parts of the body such as metabolic or endocrinologic abnormalities in which the kidneys function normally.

The components of a urinalysis include an evaluation of physical characteristics (color, odor, and opacity); determination of specific gravity and pH; detection and measurement of protein, glucose, and ketone bodies; and examination of sediment for blood cells, casts, and crystals. Some laboratories include screening for leukocyte esterase and nitrate and do not perform a microscopic examination unless one of the chemical screening (macroscopic) tests is abnormal or unless a specific request for microscopic examination is made.

Urinalysis can be performed either by automated instruments or the use of tablets, tapes or dipsticks. Dipsticks are chemically impregnated reagent (reactive) strips that allow for quick determination of pH, protein, glucose, ketones, bilirubin, hemoglobin, nitrate, leukocyte esterase, and urobilinogen. The tip of the dipstick is impregnated with chemicals that react with specific substances in the urine to produce colored end products. Color standards are provided against which the actual color can be compared. The reaction rates of the impregnated chemicals are standard for each dipstick, and color changes must be matched at the correct time after each stick is dipped into the urine specimen.

This code describes a test that is different from 81002 or 81003 because the lab uses a colorimetric analyzer rather than a dipstick, and because the test results may be semiquantitative. You also should distinguish this code from urinalysis by immunoassay (83518, Immunoassay for analyte other than infectious agent antibody or infections agent antigen; qualitative or semiquantitative, single step method [e.g., reagent strip]).

Report this code if the lab screens for bacteria in the urine using a method other than dipstick or culture. For dipstick use 81000 or 81002; for culture see 87086 and 87088 (Culture, bacterial … urine).

** 81015 — Urinalysis; microscopic only

Use this for stand-alone urine microscopy — if the lab performs other urine tests use the complete code such as 81000 or 81001.

Billing and Coding Guidelines and Tips

Note that the tests mentioned on the first page of the list attached to CR8212 (CPT codes: 81002, 81025, 82270, 82272, 82962, 83026, 84830, 85013, and 85651) do not require a QW modifier to be recognized as a waived test.Note: Medicare contractors will not search files to either retract payment or retroactively pay claims based on the changes in CR8212, however, claims should be adjusted if you bring them to your contractor’s attention.

Use CLIA modifier: If the lab that performs the test operates under a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certificate of waiver, you should report most urinalysis tests with modifier QW (CLIA waived test). Exception: Because it is the simplest urine dipstick (manual, without microscopy), 81002 is one of the original CLIAwaived tests and does not require modifier QW.

Services billed to Medicare must be documented as billed and be medically necessary. Without documentation the service was performed, no payment can be made. Periodic self audits of your Medicare billing and documentation is recommended to avoid this type of error.

UnitedHealthcare follows ACOG coding guidelines and considers CPT laboratory codes 81000 and 81002 as included in the global antepartum or global OB service when submitted with an OB diagnosis code in an office setting.

The following services are included in the global obstetrical package related to both vaginal and Caesarean delivery and will not be reimbursed separately when performed by the OB provider.
• Pregnancy test (CPT codes 81025, 84702, 84703

As noted in the Provider Manual, EmblemHealth uses manifold types of commercially available claims review software to support the correct digest of proclaim that result in ingenuous, widely recognized and transparent payment policies.* One of these policies hasten CPT code 81002 and CPT code 81003 (Urinalysis, by dip stick or tablet test) when recital with an Evaluation and Management service (e.g., CPT codes 99201-99205, 99211-99215 and 99381-99397). CPT digest 81002 and 81003 will not be separately reimbursed unless Modifier 25 is annex to the E/M service indicating that a diagnostic, non-screening, urinalysis was transact.Bill Type Codes

Contractors may specify Bill Types to help providers identify those Bill Types typically used to report this service. Absence of a Bill Type does not guarantee that the policy does not apply to that Bill Type. Complete absence of all Bill Types indicates that coverage is not influenced by Bill Type and the policy should be assumed to apply equally to all claims.

Medical record documentation maintained by the ordering/referring physician/nonphysician practitioner must indicate the medical necessity for performing the test including:

-office/progress notes

-laboratory results

If the provider of the service is other than the ordering/referring physician/nonphysician practitioner, the provider of the service must maintain documentation of test results and interpretation, along with copies of the ordering/referring physician/nonphysician practitioner’s order for the studies. The physician/nonphysician practitioner must state the clinical indication/medical necessity for the study in his order for the test.

Drug confirmation tests are not eligible to be separately reported under any procedure code, unlisted codes or otherwise. See below for additional details.

* Specimen validity testing is not eligible to be separately billed under any procedure codes (e.g. 81000, 81001, 81002, 81003, 81005, 81099, 82570, 83986, or any other code). This is because for all codes in range 80305 – 80307 & G0480 – G0483, G0659, the code description indicates that this testing is included if it was performed.

* CPT codes 80150, 80162, 80163, 80165, 80171, and 80299 are expected to be used only when the patient is on a prescription of the drug in question.

o These codes should not be used to report urine drug testing for illicit use of these drugs. Use 80305 – 80307, G0480 – G0483, G0659 instead.

o For unlisted code 80299, a description must be provided on the claim describing the therapeutic drug which is being quantified. (CPT guidelines for unlisted code reporting)

* CPT code 80299 Quantitation of therapeutic drug, not elsewhere specified is considered included in 80305 – 80307, G0480 – G0483, and G0659 when submitted in combination with these codes

Services Included in the Global Obstetrical PackageLaboratory Tests

Oxford follows ACOG coding guidelines and considers CPT laboratory codes 81000 and 81002 as included in the global antepartum or global OB service when submitted with an OB diagnosis code in an office setting. Assistant Surgeon and Cesarean Sections

Only a non-global cesarean section delivery code (CPT codes 59514 or 59620) is a reimbursable service when submitted with an appropriate assistant surgeon modifier. Refer to the Assistant Surgeon policy for additional information regarding modifiers and reimbursement. Prolonged Physician Services Prolonged physician services for labor and delivery services are not separately reimbursable services. CPT codes for prolonged physician services (99354, 99355, 99356, 99357, 99358, 99359, 99415, and 99416) are add-on codes used in conjunction with the appropriate level E/M code. As described in ACOG coding guidelines, prolonged services are not reported for services involving indefinite periods of time such as labor and delivery management.

AMA

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